Flair Magazine 
BRANCHING OUT
Rest and relaxation is exactly what the doctor ordered at the beginning of a new year. What with the run-around for Christmas and New Year finally over it is time to shed that festive weight (in every sense) and go resolution- bound. While the list of these promises slips away even before commencing there is one place not far from London which promises to get you into shape mind, body and soul.
Bring on the Treehouse’s. They always say it’s a nature vs. nurture dilemma but this time both are catered for at Chewton Glen. This new project means that guests are submerged into beautifully kept nature where each tree is numbered and kept under surveillance. Built high among the trees of a secluded valley, each Treehouse is an unforgettable setting for getting away from everything. Think luxury pods, surrounded by wildlife, built next to a National Park where breakfast arrives by hamper through a secret hatchway and where guests can sit in the hot tub on their balcony and sip champagne. Now you should have a pretty good picture.
As one of the most luxurious hotel in the country, Chewton Glen is the only place on the map which offers you a complete forest hide-away. With the 12 newly built Treehouse’s, guests can shut themselves off from the hustle and bustle and immerse themselves into such natural splendour. Stay in one of these pods which are built on stilts and spend the day gazing at the luscious greenery that surrounds the room. Keep your curtains open and feel a little bit king of the forest.
“The inevitable restrictions of building in such a picturesque and secluded valley actually helped shape the design, positioning and vista of each pod and the end result is one that has evolved organically over the course of time”, says Andrew Stembridge, managing director of Chewton Glen, “Our strategy was to work hand in hand with the local council, the ecologists and arboriculturists and this ensured that everyone and everything was considered from the outset. Even the badgers were provided with a brand new five-star home – built out of oak – and other wildlife was politely asked to ‘stand aside’ for a few months whilst we undertook the construction in the most considerate manner. Not a tree was felled nor a tree-root disturbed. The design and project team also worked in harmony to create these completely unique buildings which would blend into the natural habitat and create the absolute minimum footprint in every conceivable way”.
Designer Martin Hulbert has created a wildlife sanctuary for guests by only picking furniture and amenities which would match the wildlife surrounding. Nothing stands out rather the interiors have been designed in soft, warm, muted colours so not to deter from the outside stage. The coffee table is a particular favourite with roughly cut tree logs as the base and a simple glass top to cover. Little owl lamps sit on the consoles further adding to the theme. A small kitchenette is always stocked with fresh pastries and adds to the comforts of the hotel. Utter privacy is the name of the game and guests can chose whether to disappear for the duration of their stay or enjoy the rest of the goodies on offer.
Although it would be great to hibernate at these heights it’s also worth venturing into the main body of the hotel where a marvellous spa awaits (although once again this can all be done privately in your neck of the woods) or have a delicious meal at Vetiver Restaurant which serves home-grown produce picked directly from their kitchen garden 10 meters from the front entrance.
Chewton Glen is a traditional British hotel where the toilet is still called ‘powder room’. It oozes British countryside glamour get-a-way although it mixes superbly with all the high specs relating to its five star category. Chewton Glen is really out of the ordinary in its service to render anyone’s stay the most comfortable yet.
Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa
New Milton, New Forest, Hampshire, England
T +44 (0)1425 275 341
chewtonglen.com
